I’ve always been told that Hitler was a masterful public speaker; that his support can largely be explained by his compelling, if not mesmerizing hold on crowds. This narrative is not common, it’s universal.
Sometimes I think this is emphasized over how much the crowds approved of the content of his speech.
How do native German speakers feel when they view footage of Hitler? Do you think the reputation is earned?
Not any kind of expert but I imagine his speeches have to be seen in context of the time, by the people hearing them live. What was it like for an average German dealing with high prices, high inflation, on the heels of being fucked for years by WW1 reparations in Versailles? Then along comes a leader who yes is a good speaker charismatic etc but also that leader’s message fits super nicely into the public sentiment of the time.
Reading the text of his speeches almost 100 years later cannot possibly provide the same experience.
